Farm Service Agency county committee nominations now open

[June 26, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- Scherrie V. Giamanco, USDA Illinois Farm Service Agency executive director, announced that farmers have until Aug. 1 to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local Farm Service Agency county committees. The county committee nomination period began June 15.

"County committees play a vital role in the administration of federal farm programs and are the voice of local landowners and farmers. They have a positive effect on rural communities as they represent farmers in their area of the county," said Giamanco.

FSA county committees make decisions on commodity price support loans, conservation programs, disaster programs, employing county executive directors and other significant agricultural issues.

To hold office as a county committee member, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate. A complete list of eligibility requirements is posted online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/
Internet/FSA_File/coc_eligib_2012.pdf.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others as candidates. Additionally, organizations representing minorities and women may nominate candidates. All nominees must sign nomination form FSA-669A, which includes a statement that the nominee agrees to serve if elected. Form FSA-669A is available at USDA Service Centers and online at http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/
efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/
FSA669-A.PDF.

All nomination forms for the 2012 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1.

Voting takes place in the fall. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters by Nov. 5. The final day to return completed ballots to the local USDA Service Center is Dec. 3. Newly elected county committee members take office Jan. 1, 2013.

For more information about FSA county committees, visit a local USDA Service Center or online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/
webapp?area=newsroom&subject=
landing&topic=cce.

[Text from file received from Illinois Farm Service Agency]